Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) +13.5 at No. 12 Clemson Tigers (14-0) -13.5
Little John Coliseum, Clemson, S.C., 9:00PM Eastern, Tuesday
By Jay Horne of Predictem.com
The Clemson Tigers are the surprise team in the ACC so far early in the year with a perfect record of 14-0 and recently grabbed the number 12 ranking in the nation. The Tigers may not be the best team in the stacked ACC this season, but they do have the ability to beat any team across the nation on any given night. The Tigers will host an out of conference SEC team this Tuesday when the Alabama Crimson Tide roll into town. The Crimson Tide has had some struggles this year, but will have a chance to earn a big victory if they can get the win on the road against a premier ACC opponent.
Alabama has played fairly well in recent weeks becoming winners of their last 5 games. The Crimson Tide struggles have come against strong offensive teams this season. The Crimson Tide is 1-3 straight up when allowing 70 points or more this season. Alabama will have a tough task ahead of them to try and control a stout Clemson offense that ranks 12 in the nation in scoring averaging 82 points per contest. However, the Tide has played well on defense this season only allowing opponents to shoot a mere 38% from the floor which ranks in the top 30 in college basketball. Alabama must keep the scoring in low in this game considering they may not have the firepower to run up and down the court with the Tigers.
Clemson has shot lights out from the floor this season with a 50 percent field goal average as a team. The Tigers field goal percentage ranks 10th in the nation and they are a dangerous presence on the offensive side of the court. The Tigers are perfect on the season, but they have had some close calls along the way. Clemson will likely receive a big effort from Alabama when the two collide at Little John Coliseum and this game. However, Clemson will come into the game as the big favorites. Clemson will try to utilize their high scoring potential against a Crimson Tide team that is only shooting 44% from the floor.
Sportsbetting.ag released the initial betting line favoring the Clemson Tigers by a strong 13.5 points over Alabama. Some off-shore odds have the money line with the Tigers as the -1200 favorites and hold Alabama as the +700 underdogs.
The Clemson Tigers are led by a trio of standouts in K.C Rivers, Trevor Booker, and Terrence Oglesby. These 3 players lead a starting five that can flat out shoot the rock. The Clemson starting five has shot 52% from the floor this season led by K.C Rivers who is averaging 15.3 points per game. Trevor Booker is possibly the most valuable starter in the rotation. Booker is shooting a strong 60% from the floor and presents a big inside threat. Booker is averaging near a double-double for the season with 14.6 points and 9.6 rebounds every contest. Lastly, Terrence Oglesby can get hot on any given night and gives the Tigers an outside threat. Oglesby is shooting 43% from 3-point range and Alabama must keep a hand on him or he can hot in a hurry.
Alabama is led by the play of two stellar guards in seniors Alonzo Gee and Ronald Steele. Both players are averaging 14 points a contest and combine for 10 rebounds per game. The Crimson Tide success feeds off the backcourt performance from these two playmakers. For Alabama to challenge Clemson in this game, they must control the glass well as they have all season. The Crimson Tide ranks 27th nationally averaging 37.2 rebounds per game. Alabama will need to control the boards and pace of the game. The Crimson Tide must slow the fast pace Clemson team down and control the glass to have a shot of winning this game. If they do that, then they will have a chance to earn some respect with a big victory.
Betting Trends
Clemson is 7-2 ATS in their 9 games that received betting attention this season. The Tigers have also favored the over total in 2 of their last 3 outings due to the high scoring games they usually partake in. Alabama is 5-3 ATS in their last 8 games and also 5-3 favoring the over on the total this season as well. This will be the Crimson Tides first test this year as underdogs against the spread.
Jays Pick – This is the same Alabama team that lost to Mercer and was blown out by a bad Oregon team. Clemson has too many offensive weapons to be challenged. Take Clemson -13.5.
